Restoring Restoration Hardware

Restoration Hardware Inc. (Corte Madero, Calif.) announced that John Tate has accepted an offer to become its new chief operating officer and executive vp. Tate, previously coo of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (Winston-Salem, N.C.), had been serving as a member of Restoration Hardware’s board of directors and as head of its audit committee.

Tate replaces Tom Bazzone, who resigned in December “to pursue other opportunites.”

Tate has also served as cfo of Williams-Sonoma Inc. (San Francisco) as well as in a variety of executive positions with Dole Food Co. Inc. (Westlake Village, Calif.), Ryder Systems Inc. (Miami), PepsiCo Inc. (Purchase, N.Y.) and Sara Lee Corp. (Chicago).

“We are excited to have an operating executive of John’s caliber joining the Restoration Hardware management team,” said president and ceo Gary Friedman. “I have been fortunate to work with John over the last several years, both as a contributing member of our board and during the period when we were both members of the management team at Williams-Sonoma. John’s broad operating and financial experience, as well as very specific knowledge of Restoration Hardware and our multi-channel retail operation, enable John to join the management team here and make immediate significant contributions to the Company as well as position us for profitable future growth.”

Friedman said the company had initiated a search for a leader of its supply chain, distribution and logistics activities and “we intend to continue our search for an executive to head this important function that will report to John in his role as coo.”